Transparent tile and method of making same



` -May 12, 1931. J. T. NICHOLSON 1,804,508

TRANSPARENT TILE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME I Filed Oct. 11l 1925 fig-f2 ffy Patented May vl2, 1931 JOHN T. NICHOLSON,0F LARAMIE, WYOMING TRANSPARENT TILE AND METHOD F MAKING SAME Application led October 11, 1926. Serial No. 140,989.

This invention relates to an ornamental tile and to the method of making the same, the

purpose being to provide by an inexpensive andv practicable method a tile which may be U readily used in Wall and'ceiling construction,

or may be set in wood fibre or plastic materials to produce panels, borders or the like, and

Which will be of highlyornamental and at tractive appearance, characterized by. a brilliant coloring effect and lustre.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the steps of the process employed in the manufacture of the tile of this invention, as well as the tile in its ultimate and completed forms.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is disclosed in the form considered to be the best, but the invention is not limited to details of such -form and method, except as such details are expressed in appended claims, respectively. In the drawings :e-

Fig. l is a pane or plate of suitable transparent material, as glass, used as the face or I cover plateof the tile;

Fig. 2 is a stencil which is'employed in pro' ucing the design on one face of the transparent plate; f

Fig. 3 shows the stencil arranged on the plate and the material used in producing the design applied to the portion of the plate exposed by the stencil.

Fig'. 4 shows an elevation of the rear face oi the plate after the stencil has been removed and the design and coloring have been applied to the surface of the plate.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the completed tile in accordance with one form of the invention, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a. transverse sectional View taken on a line corres onding to the line 5-'-5 of Fig. 4, with the ace of the transparent plate bearing the design having a fabric or sheet applied thereto to producea modified form of the tile;

. Fig. 7 is a view of the mold in Which the 'tile y shown in Fig. 6 is placed prior to the completion of the same;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View of the mold shown -in Fi .'7 with the tile having a plastic base applied thereto, and

Fig. 9 is a face view of the completed tile as the same would appear in accordance with either form of the invention.'

To produce the tile of this invention, a plate or'panel 10 of transparent glass, or like material, of any suitable size and shape is provided, upon one surface of which is placed a stencil 1l, the stencil being cut to provide the desired design to be produced 0n the tile. In the present instance this design is in the form ofa star. The exposed area of the face of the panel l0 covered by the stencil mav is then suitably provided with any approved substantially transparent adhesive solution and this adhesive solution while still moist` is covered with a suitable granular and lustrous material having an appropriate color, as the material known as metallics for exf ample, metallics being the present trade name `of a granulated mineral substance which includes a varity of colors. Since the metallics must be confined to that portion of the plate or panel prescribed for its reception it, of course, is desirable, or even necessary, that the surrounding area be protected against the adherence of the metallics thereto during the step of applying the metallics,

and since the stencil employed during the step of applying the adhesive solution, and especially the edges thereof `bounding the design, becomes wet by the solution, 1t is preferred to substitute, intermediate the step of applying the adhesive solution and the step of covering the solution with metallics, a dry stencil for the one used while the adhesive solution was being applied. This dry stencil should be similar, With'respect to its design, to the one for which it was substituted, except that the design should be of such size as to provide a suicient margin to cause it to emde the adhesive solution which has been applied to the panel. The metallics are unite through the medium of the adhesive, pressure being applied in effecting the union if necessary. The stencil is then removed from the plate or panel,eaving the latter provided -.with the design 12, any excess of metallics bein shaken ofi' or otherwise removed when theV esign has become suiciently dry to perto the 'transparent plate 10 mit this. This design, when dry, should be covered lightly with a coat of thin paste, such as that commonly used by paper-hangers and which is free from chemicals. This will prevent any intermingling of the metallics wh ich form the design just referred to, with other metallics or the like, which as indicated at4 13, "Fi 4, may be applied to the remaining facevo? the plate or panel. These should be of a color which harmonizes with that of the design and brings the latter out into the prominence intended. This coating is produced by first covering the portion of t-he plate or panel surrounding the design 12 with anadhesive solution and then covering said solution with the selected metallics, or the like, and pressing them into the solution while the latter is stillrwet. lV hen the adhesive solution yis dry, any excess Iof nietallics is suitably removed. Thus one surface of the transparent .plate is completely coated with a granular lustrous material applied thereonv toproduce a selected design and having colors representative of the taste of the designer. It will be appa-rent that it is the rear or innersurface of the glass plate which is thus coated. lVhen the entire surface has dried, it should b c covered with a light coat of thin paste, such as that hereinbefore referred to. v

The next step in the production of the o*lass face tile is to apply an appropriate lacking thereto, after the paste has dried.

This backing may be of di'li'erent kinds. lt`

may be and preferablyis a supporting base as well asa backing. In one embodiment of the invention. the backing or base, marked 14, of the tile is preferably celotex (which is the trade name of sugar-cane fiber in sheet form) of a size corresponding with that of the glassplate 10. Thisbase 14 'is affixed to the'surface of the glassplate carrying the deslgns 12 and 13 by an adhesive solution, the parts being pressed together untildry. The edges of the tile thus produced may or may .not be bound, as desired, by a-'plastic compositi on 15, which may consist of one part. gum arabic and three parts plaster of Paris, or one part Portland cement and three parts fine sand, or a coat of glue covered with a coat' of varnish. The binding 15 is for the purpose of maintaining the glass plate 10 and the base 14 together, and for excluding dust, moisture and the like from the metallics or designs between the plate and base. When, however, the tiles are to be set separately in a plastic orcement wall, the edges need not be bound as stated, as the material in which the tile is set will bind the same.

00 Moreover, in certain instances, it may be desired to set the tile in a base of other than plastic material. such as wood, metal or the like, for panels, and my invention contemplates such a setting thereof, and inthis case also the binding 15 may be' omitted.

Finally, in certain intended uses of the tile, it may be found that a plastic base of other material than celotex, is preferable, such as plaster of Paris or a mixture of Portland cement and sand, for example. In constructing a tile with such a plastic base it is preferred, if Portland cement is used, to cover the face of the glass plate 10 which carries the designs 12 and 13, with a layer 16 of suitable fabric, suclras duck, canvas or the like, as shown in Fig. G. This layer 16 when used is interposed between the plate and the base and is initially applied to the plate before the final coat of thin paste has dried and then, when the paste has dried, a coat of a suitable adhesive, as ordinary glue, is given and when this has dried, the layer 16 is supplied with a coat of varnish which should be allowed to dry fully before the plastic base is applied. In applying this plastic base the tile thus far constructed is placed, with its glass face downward, in a suitable mold 17, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, which will allow a clearance of substantially one-sixteenth of an inch between its side walls andthe edges of the tile. The mold is then .lilled with a plastic composition consisting, preferably, of one part Portland cementand three parts line sand, or the backing may be of a plaster or plaster of Paris composition. This plastic composition is supplied in a manner to low downward over the edges of the glass plate 10, as at'18, in order to bind or seal the edges of the plate with the base, for the same purposes and reasons as set forth inconnection with the embodiment above described. The tile is then permitted. to remain in the mold until the base is'hardened, and when removed is ready for use, and in its finished condition has the appearance illustrated in Fig. 9.

The tiles as disclosed above may be made in the form of a single tile or may be made in panels in theform of several tiles, according to the use to which it may be put.

It will be understood that tiles provided in accordance with the present invention may be of a variety of designs in themselves, and may have the metallics therein arranged in any desired design, according to the stencil o r stencils 11 which may be used for this purpose.-

It is also to be understood that it is within the purview of this invention to useany suitable lustrous granular material for effecting the designs 12 and 13 in lieu of the metallics referred to. However, the metallics are preferred, for the reason, among others, that each particle thereof in the finished tile gives a brilliant lustre which will radiate through the transparent glass plate 10, giving the effect of small crystals incorporated in natural stone.

to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ad what I therefore claim, is

- parent acing member, a lustrous granular l substance on the inner surface of said facing member and secured thereto by an adhesive, a base member inward of the facing member and a binder around the edges of the unit'to bind said facing and base members together and to seal the joint between the same.

2. A paneling unit comprising two oppositely arranged protecting members, one of which is transparent, a colored granular means intermediate said members to give ornamentation to the unit, and a binding element extending from one of said members over to edges of the other member to join the parts together and toseal the edges between the s ame.

3. A paneling unit comprising a transparent facing member, a base member of plastic material and a colored granular material, the latter material arranged intermediate said members to give ornamentation to the unit, the edge portions of said base member extending laterally to overlie the edge of said facing member, whereby the parts are bound -and sealed together.

4. A method of making a paneling unit including the steps of superimposing on a sheet of transparent material a stencil having a cut out portion in accordance with a design to be produced on said sheet, then applying a coating of adhesive material to the portion of the sheet exposed through said stencil, removing the said stencil and substituting for it a stencil having a similar but slightly larger cut out portion, and while said solution is moist applying thereto a coating of colored granular material.

' 5. The method of making a paneling unit, including the steps of superimposing on a sheet of transparent material a stencil having a cut out portion in accordance With-a design to be produced on said sheet, applying a coating of adhesive solution to the portion of the sheet exposed through said stencil, coating the adhesive solution with colored granular material while said solution is moist and While the remainder of the surface ofthe sheet is covered, and thereafter exposing said remaining surface of the sheet and applying thereto a coating of material having a color different from that of the granular material.

6. The method of making a paneling unit, including the steps of superimposingon a sheet of transparent material a stencil having a cut out portion in accordance with a design to be produced on said sheet, applying a coating of adhesive solution to the portion of the sheet exposed throughsaid stencil, coating the adhesivesolution with colored granular lmaterial while said solution is moist and while the remainder of the sur-` aneling unit comprising a transface of the sheet is covered, and thereafter exposing said remaining surface of the sheet and applying thereto a coating of granular material of a different color from that applied through the stencil.

7. The method of making a paneling unit,

including the steps of superimposing on a' sheet of transparent material a stencil having a cut out portion in accordance with a design to be produced on said sheet, applying a coating of adhesive solution to the portion of the sheet exposed through said stencil,

coating the adhesive solution with colored granular material While said solution is -moist and while the remainder of the surface ing a granular material .to the coated area of the layer, applying a backing layer of sheet material to the said surface of the facing layer and over said granular material by an adhesive and pressure; then applying a base over said sheet material and coextenslve with said facing layer and -aflixing same to the unit.

9. lThe method of making a paneling unit consisting in applying to one surface of a transparent layer a stencil bearing a design, coating the exposed area of the surface ofsaid layer with adhesive, applying a granular Amaterial to the coated area, coating the remaining area of said surface of said layer with adhesive and applying thereto a granular material.

a l0. rlhe method of making a paneling unit consisting'in applying to one surface of a transparent layer a stencil bearing a design, coating the exposed area of the surfacev of said layer with adhesive, applyingfa granular material to the coated area, coating the remaining area of said surface of said layer with adhesive andapplying thereto a granular material and thereafter applying a backing over said granular material and aiixing the same to the remainder of the unit.

- material and bindin the edges of the transent sheet whose inner surface is provided with an ornamenting layer of granular ma terial secured thereto by an adhesive, and which material is distributed on said surface in accordance with a predetermined design, a backing which covers the material and protects the same and a binding around the edges of the sheet and backing for securing the edges 'of the sheet and backing together.

13. A paneling unit including a transparent sheet whosev inner4 ,surface is provided with anornamenting layer of granular material secured thereto and lwhich material is distributed on said surface in accordance with a predetermined design, a fabric layer covering the granular material, and a base member covering the fabric layer and separated from the granular material by said layer.

14. A paneling unit including a transparent sheet having a plane inner surface provided with an inner ornamenting layer formed of particles of colored material secured thereto by an adhesive, and which material is distributed on said surface in accord.

'ent sheet provided with the ornamenting layer and adhesive coating. v

' 15. A method of making a paneling unit including the steps of adherin to an exposed part of the inner surface 0% a transparent sheet, while other parts of said surface are protected, an ornamenting material in anular form in accordance with a pre eter-l mined design, then coating the exposed face vof said Amaterial with a pasty material, then adhering to the part of said inner surface of the transparent sheet around the outer boundy aries ofthe design a material in granular form and of a nature which causes the design to stand out and then. coating the exposed surlfaces of the granular with a pasty materia 16. A method of making a paneling unit including the steps of adhering to an exposed part of the inner surface of a transparent sheet, while other parts of said surface are protected, an ornamenting material in granu ar form in accordance with a predetermined design, then coating-the exposed face ofsaid materiall with a pasty material, then adhering to thepartof said inner surface of the transparent sheet around the outer boundaries of the design a material in granular 4form and of a nature which causes the design to stand out, then coating the exposed surfaces of the granular with a pasty material, and thereafter adhering a backing to the pasted side of the granules.

17. A method of making a paneling unit including the steps of adhering to an erA posed part of the inner surface of a transparent sheet, while other' parts of said surface are protected, an ornamenting material in granular form in accordance with a predetermined design, then coating the exposed face of said material with a pasty-material, then adhering to the part of said inner surface of the transparent sheet around the outer boundaries of the design a material in granular form and of a nature which causes the design to stand out, then coating the ex posed surfaces of the granules with a pasty material, and thereafter adhering a backing of fibrous material to the pasted side of the granules.

18. A method of making a paneling unit including the steps of adhering to an exposed part of the inner surface of a transparent sheet, While other parte of said surface are protected, an ornameuting material in grauw lar form in accordance with a predetermined design, then coating the exposed face of said material with a pasty material, then adhering to the part of said inner surface of the transparentk sheet around the outer boundaries of the design a material in granular form and of a nature which causes the. design to stand out, then coating the exposed surfaces of the granules with a pasty material, and thereafter adhering a backing of fibrous material to the pasted side of the granules and adhering a layer of plastic material to the fibrous material.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature. Y

JOHN T. NICHOLSON. 

